Blah Blah Bloggy Blabber..I make a living doing live theatre.. mainly improv shows for kids and families. The rest of my time is spent organizing these performances and stuff behind the scenes. When I have free time I make vlogs and sketch comedy videos for youtube. Sometimes I share my experiences here either personal, artistic or business.
8 Things Needed For Producing a Successful Improv Show
8 Things Needed For Producing a Successful Improv Show
by Eight is NEVER Enough Co-founder Laurice Fattal
I’ve been wanting to post some more informative and educational blogs about what I do. I recently started looking back at all the different venues, gigs and situations that we’ve dealt with over the years. These are some very basic but good starting points to think about when putting up an improv show. Having done 3000+ shows with Eight is NEVER Enough, Improv 4 Kids and LMAO Off-broadway, I’ve encountered just about every issue listed here.
#1 - Cast of Players
Obviously before you can put on a show you will need a cast of actors. The show can’t happen without actors so if you have people that you have worked with in the past or feel chemistry with then this is a good place to start. Chemistry and talent are very important but not as important as working with someone who is dedicated and reliable. You might have the next Wayne Brady in your cast but if he can’t make it to any of the rehearsals or performances then it’s pointless. It might be more worth your time working with somebody else who is more dedicated because you can take the time to develop your chemistry and skills throughout the rehearsal process. If necessary, hold auditions.
#2 - Rehearsal Space
You will need a place to rehearse. I find that rehearsing in peoples apartments and houses is acceptable and frugal but not necessarily the best way to go. A lot of things can become distracting (phones/doorbells ringing, other family members interrupting , tv, noises) , which can greatly affect the focus of the rehearsal. Also people are in a different mindset when they are at home or at someone’s house. Sometimes it becomes more like a party and less work is achieved. This is just based on my experience when trying to run improv rehearsals this way. I recommend booking a space either at a rehearsal studio, school or community center. The mindset and focus of the cast will immediately be more professional and if you are paying for a space then there will be more of an urgency to be productive.
#3 Performance Space
Ahhh.. the joy of choosing a place to perform. There are a lot of things to consider when looking for a venue but I would say that the top priority would be a nice sized stage with a decent playing space of at least 10 x 10. You can certainly go smaller but even with a smaller improv troupe, it can be restricting when doing anything very physical. If you are unable to find a space this size then I recommend spiking the layout of space on the floor during rehearsals. Sometimes you can negotiate with the venue to hold rehearsals in the space. This is gold. Don’t expect that to happen right away but if your shows are successful and you are bringing crowds to the theatre or club, chances are they will let you use it for some rehearsals.
Another priority consider when choosing a performance space is lighting You can’t do a show in the dark. Well, you can do a show in the dark but don’t expect to have the audience’s attention if there is no light on stage. If the venue does not have it’s own stage lights then you should either start looking for another space or purchase a basic DJ lighting system that will cover the performance area. You can order these systems online for less than $200.
Finally the third priority to consider is sound. It really sucks when the audience can’t hear you. Nobody will be laughing if they can’t hear what’s going on. This is perhaps the trickiest thing to deal with when putting up a show. I worked with everything from boom mikes, boundary/floor mikes, lapels, headset mikes, choral mikes and I still find that sound can be a struggle when it’s not right. If you are in a larger space such as a HS auditorium then headset mikes are a good way to go. Smaller clubs and theatres are a little more flexible and if you set up a few boom mikes then that might be enough.
#4 Technician
Depending on the venue you may or may not need a technician. It REALLY helps having somebody that knows what they are doing. Some improv groups rotate responsibilities by having various members run tech for shows. This is effective but keep in mind if you are depending on this person being there and they blow off the tech rotation (“I’m not performing tonight.. so um…I can’t be there”) then you will be stuck without one. If this happens, you might want to consider replacing this cast member as they are not a team player. Sometimes the venue has a house technician that they will provide for the show. If this is the case then make sure you communicate your needs to the technician clearly. TIP: Keep it Simple. Too many light and sound cues can throw off a show if timed incorrectly.
#5 Printing
You’re going to need programs, tickets and flyers. You can print these from home but as you know, the cost of ink can add up and it might even be cheaper to have it done professionally. TIP: Sometimes you can reach out to a local printing company and offer ad space in your program in exchange for discounts or free printing.
#6 Website
I cannot stress how important this is. Everyone and everything is on the web. It will be hard for anyone to take you seriously without a website. Even if it is very simple with just a photo and the name of your show and cast members, it is better than not having one. Eventually you can post links to videos of your performance. Tip: look into basic web-hosting that allows you to designed without knowing HTML.
#7 Fan Pages
Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and Youtube - create a Fan Page on at least one of these sites. You can later use it to post videos and pictures from performances and TAG people. This will help promote your shows.
#8 Getting An Audience - MORE Marketing
Nothing is worse than playing to an empty room. Nothing is better than playing to a sold out room. If you are doing short form improv then you will need a handful of people to give you different suggestions throughout the performance.
- Friends/Family - If you are just starting out then the best place to start is with friends, family and co-workers. If the audience is filled with people you know, chances are you’re going to have a supportive audience. Nowadays it is very easy to reach out to people through Facebook and Twitter. If you are not online then this is going to be a roadblock for you. Make sure you create an event for the performance and invite everyone you think would like to attend.
- Local Listings - submit your listing to all the local papers. This usually can be done via email. Look in the arts/entertainment section you will find an email address for listings submissions. Many papers need your listings 2-3 weeks in advance so the sooner you submit your listing the better the chance of your improv show being listed.
- Sell Tickets Online - there are plenty of websites that allow you to create events and sell tickets online so that your guests can print out digital tickets. This is a good way to get presale going. Also many of these sites will alert you via email when a sale has been made.
- Flyers/Posters - as mentioned in #5, having a flyer to give people is a great way to promote your shows. Posters are also a good way to get the word out. Post these up at the library, coffee shops, etc
- Emailing - You can also send out some emails to friends letting them know and reminding them about the shows. This isn’t the best way to do it because of the spam filters but it can’t hurt to send out an email to the people you know.
- “Barking” - “Comedy- Tonight!!!!“ If you live in a big city with lots of pedestrian street traffic then this can be extremely effective. Keep in mind this takes A LOT of energy and charisma. It is pure hustling and this can wear people out very easily. Improv is also a very hard sell. People don’t always understand what it is and if strangers come in expecting stand up comedy then they might leave your show very unhappy. Make sure you explain to them what the show is all about and what to expect. If you are “barking” prior to the performance you might also be very tired by the time the show starts. You may have no voice left. I suggest lots of water, food and caffeine. Pace yourself. You can also hire someone else to do I this for you but I have found in my experiences that nobody else is going to put in as much effort as myself.
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